Off the Top of My Head

I believe in the American people. For years now it has appeared as if people in this country no longer think or maybe no longer know how to think. Perhaps it is just OPT (old people talk). Old people, like me, tend to think things are worse now than when they were young. I don’t really know. But I feel, judging from some folks’ behavior, that the number of high-thinking people in this country is diminishing and one day we will find ourselves tipped. By that, I mean, that the non-thinking folks will be so numerous that they will become an overwhelming majority and tip the scales of sensibility toward the other side.
Yep, I’m talking politics. This has been the worst (and this isn’t old people talk) presidential campaign in my lifetime. Perhaps politics was worse back in the days when Burr shot Hamilton, perhaps. So far, this year no one has pulled out a gun, but just about every other type of weapon has been used, from old tapes to old girlfriends.
I didn’t watch any of the debates. We all know the difference between the two candidates. Anyone who is undecided, well I don’t want to get personal and start name calling, but what’s there to decide?
We have one candidate who represents the status quo: a status quo that many of us find intolerable because it is a status quo that is completely controlled by the rich. People with money are served by a different justice system. People with money don’t face the horrid living conditions forced upon many by the shrunken job market (in some part brought about by greedy business people who put quarterly profits ahead of the welfare of the country). People with money often don’t even bother to vote since they can buy whatever they need from Congress. That is America today, maybe all its days.
The other candidate wants to blow up the system. That might sound appealing to some, but we are not capable of starting over, of overthrowing our current system and replacing it with anything else. That is not possible. There are too many people and issues entrenched in the status quo. And, if we can’t make our current system work because we have the inability or the unwillingness to learn how to cooperate (see current Congress) then how could we create a new system?
And, anyone who is honest will admit this is still the best country in the world in which to live.
Of course, we also have two other candidates that the mainstream media barely refuses to acknowledge.
I believe the American people will decide in an overwhelming fashion to not elect Donald Trump.
When Trump first appeared as a candidate I was sure he was a joke, that he was convinced by Bill Clinton (an apparent friend or, at least, a good acquaintance) to run as a Republican and run amok to help dishevel the Republican Party. He did that quite well. Then, somewhere along the line, the water got too deep to bail or he actually started to become delusional enough to believe he could win.
How can any person insult women, men, every ethnic minority in existence, war veterans, disabled persons, persons of color, immigrants, religious sects – did I miss anyone – how can a person do all that and still become president? I don’t think he can. Regardless of the opponent, I don’t believe a man who displays all those negative aspects of his personality can win. I believe in the American people. We have lots of problems, lots of issues that need to be addressed, scars of embarrassment that come with our history, but we are not haters. We are not to the point where someone who totally disrespects anyone different from himself can become president. I refuse to believe it is possible. I believe in the American people.
So, why am I holding my breath?
Gabriel A. Fraire has been a writer more than 45 years. He can be reached through his website at: www.gabrielfraire.com.